Takoyaki is a favourite festival food in Japan. It's made of balls of batter mixed with chopped up octopus, and, in this case, teeny tiny octopi. Takoyaki made with wee octopi doesn't really float my boat, though normal takoyaki is pretty good—as long as the octopus pieces are suction cup-free.
Christmas at Kamakura Station
The Enoden Line's Kamakura Station always gets an A for effort when it comes to seasonal decorations, even for the more Western holidays.
Garden Upkeep
Japanese gardens don't tend themselves. A temple gardener works on the grass of the garden at Engaku-ji.
Kami-sama
This is a close-up of a photo I posted a few weeks ago. The other photo focused on Oinari-san, the fox. I hope what catches your eye in this photo is the small, round mirror in the back. That little mirror is the kami-sama, or god(dess).
Relief
I wish I had something to say about this, but alas, it's been such a long time since I took the photo that I cannot for the life of me remember where it's from. A good lesson to be more careful with my notes!
Kamakura Koko-Mae
Kamakura Koko-Mae Station is one of the more beautiful stations along the Enoden Line. It's not that the station itself is so spectacular, but rather that the view from the station is second-to-none. From Kamakura Koko-Mae, the ocean spreads out in front of you in beautiful shades of blue, Enoshima (island) rises from the sea … Continue reading Kamakura Koko-Mae
Sunshine Gate
Engaku-ji's main gate with the sun beating down on it. Engaku-ji is number two of Kamakura's five great Zen temples. It's located right beside Kita-Kamakura Station, which makes it the number one temple for convenience.
Medieval Tombs
Kamakura is riddled with small caves carved into the soft rock. These caves are tombs, built in medieval times. According to Wikipedia, Kamakura has anywhere from 1500 to 5000 yagura cut into its hills. It is assumed that many have yet to be found. The yagura pictured is Kamakura's largest, located at Meigetsu-in in Kita-Kamakura.
Kencho-ji Tengu
At the back of Kencho-ji's vast grounds, a hill rises up, topped by Kencho-ji's shrine, the Hansobo. Sprinkled over the hill is a collection of karasu-tengu (crow tengu), a kami (god)/yokai (supernatural being) combination creature. Most tengu in Japan, nowadays at least, are depicted as having exceptionally long noses, though the older style have more … Continue reading Kencho-ji Tengu
A Most Fabulous Door
The Kencho-ji temple complex is huge–it just keeps going and going. As you make your way towards the hills at the back, you'll pass by this rather stunning door.
女性専用 - Inn By The Sea Kamakura - Women's Guesthouse 